JP2004208859A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ultrasonic diagnostic equipment by which an internal tissue made into a video and the image of a puncture needle are easily discriminated from each other by specifying the position of the puncture needle in a living body and performing treatment of emphasizing and displaying its ultrasonic image. <P>SOLUTION: As for the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, an arithmetic/control circuit 7 obtains information about the puncturing angle of the puncture needle by an angle detector 6a provided at a punctuation adapter 5, judges the position of the puncture needle in the living body from the information about the puncturing angle and a luminance signal based on the received signal of the reflected wave of ultrasonic beams obtained by an ultrasonic probe 1, and specifies a reflection signal from the puncture needle included in the received signal of the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beams. Further, a DSC circuit 15 performs processing of emphasizing and displaying only the reflected signal from the puncture signal on a monitor 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured to perform a puncture operation while monitoring an ultrasonic image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a puncture operation under the monitoring of an ultrasonic image, the intensity of the reflected signal from the puncture needle decreases due to the surface roughness of the puncture needle and the angle of the puncture needle with respect to the transmitted ultrasonic beam, and an artifact is generated. For example, there is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish and recognize the imaged puncture needle image and the in-vivo tissue on the ultrasonic image.
[0003]
In view of this, some ultrasonic diagnostic devices are provided with a stipulation tool that defines the puncture path of the puncture needle in the ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves, and the stipulation tool has a length of penetration of the puncture needle into the living body. And a detector having a function of detecting the position of the tip of the puncture needle by calculation and superimposing and displaying the position on an ultrasonic image (for example, see Patent Document 1), With respect to the puncture needle inserted into the living body, the traveling direction of the ultrasonic wave is inclined so that the ultrasonic wave is transmitted substantially orthogonally. By setting the focal position so that the focal point of the ultrasonic beam is located, the intensity of the reflected wave from the puncture needle is increased, and the puncture needle image is clarified. One having a function of displaying images clearly (for example, see Patent Document 2) It is present.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-229042
(Paragraphs [0011]-[0022], FIGS. 1-5)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-9-28708
(Paragraphs [0020]-[0028], FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of calculating the tip position of the puncture needle described above and superimposing and displaying the tip position on an ultrasonic image, it is necessary to accurately supplement the tip position of the puncture needle. Therefore, a detector that detects the penetration length and the insertion angle of the puncture needle is required to have high accuracy and reliability, and the ultrasonic waves are substantially orthogonal to the puncture needle inserted into the living body. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with a means for tilting the ultrasonic beam so that the puncture needle image becomes clear, the intensity of the reflected wave from the object in the living body decreases (the puncture needle is inserted into the living body). By inclining the transmission / reception direction of the ultrasonic wave so that the ultrasonic wave is transmitted / received substantially orthogonally to the puncture needle, the transmission / reception angle of the ultrasonic wave with respect to the object in the living body becomes small. Image of the part representing the object Image quality of there has been a problem that significantly reduced.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a purpose thereof is to surely specify the position of a puncture needle in a living body, and to improve the image quality of a part of an ultrasonic image that displays a body tissue. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can easily distinguish a visualized puncture needle image from a body tissue by performing a process of highlighting and displaying only a portion where a puncture needle is displayed without significantly lowering the puncture needle image. Is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 has an angle detecting means for defining an insertion path of a puncture needle on a scanning line of an ultrasonic beam and detecting an insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to a living body. An ultrasonic probe that includes a puncture adapter, has a plurality of transducers that generate ultrasonic waves, scans an ultrasonic wave generated from the transducers as an ultrasonic beam in a living body, and receives a reflected wave thereof. Based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image generating means for generating an ultrasonic image of the living body, and an ultrasonic image generated by the ultrasonic image generating means. The ultrasonic beam is made substantially orthogonal to the insertion path of the puncture needle based on display means for displaying and the insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to the living body detected by the angle detection means. Ultrasonic beam deflecting means for deflecting in the direction, and every time the ultrasonic beam is scanned a predetermined number of times, the ultrasonic beam deflecting means directs the ultrasonic beam in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion path of the puncture needle. And an ultrasonic beam control means for controlling deflection.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image creating means includes a first ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which does not involve deflection of the ultrasonic beam by the ultrasonic beam control means. A first ultrasonic tomographic image is created based on the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam, and a second ultrasonic tomographic image is generated based on the reflected wave of the second ultrasonic beam accompanied by deflection of the ultrasonic beam by the ultrasonic beam control means. After generating the ultrasonic tomographic image, a third ultrasonic tomographic image is generated by further adding the first ultrasonic tomographic image and the second ultrasonic tomographic image.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the ultrasonic image creating means includes a luminance information based on a reflected wave of the second ultrasonic beam. And a reflection signal from the puncture needle included in a reflected wave of the second ultrasonic beam, based on information on an insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to the living body detected by the angle detection unit. In addition, a process of emphasizing and displaying an image portion created based on the reflection signal is performed.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the third aspect, the processing for emphasizing and displaying the color of an image portion created based on a reflection signal from the puncture needle, Alternatively, it is a process of changing the luminance.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the ultrasonic beam deflecting means applies the ultrasonic beam to the puncture needle. A deflection frequency adjusting means for adjusting the frequency of deflection in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion path is provided.
[0012]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the puncture adapter includes a tip position of the puncture needle on the insertion path. The position of the puncture needle on the insertion path detected by the position detection means, and the insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to the living body detected by the angle detection means. A focus position control unit that changes a focus position of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from the plurality of transducers based on the information.
[0013]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 7 includes a puncture adapter that defines an insertion path of a puncture needle on a scanning line of an ultrasonic beam, and includes a plurality of transducers that generate ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic probe that scans an ultrasonic wave generated from the vibrator in the living body as the ultrasonic beam, and receives a reflected wave thereof, based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound image creating unit that creates an ultrasound image of the living body; and a display unit that displays an ultrasound image created by the ultrasound image creating unit. Based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe, a displacement amount of the puncture needle from the insertion path in a direction substantially orthogonal to a scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam is calculated. The ultrasonic image creating means is displayed as the ultrasonic image according to the positional shift amount of the puncture needle from the insertion path calculated by the positional shift amount calculating means. A process of highlighting and displaying the image of the puncture needle to be performed.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 8 is the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of transducers spread in a scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam and a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction. Having a two-dimensional array structure, wherein the displacement amount calculating means, based on reflected waves in the scanning direction and the direction substantially orthogonal to the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe, Identifying the position of the puncture needle in the substantially orthogonal direction according to the scanning direction, and calculating the amount of positional deviation from the insertion path in the substantially orthogonal direction according to the scanning direction of the puncture needle, The ultrasonic image creating means is configured to display the puncture displayed on the ultrasonic image in accordance with a positional deviation amount from the insertion path in the direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the puncture needle. Wherein the performing processing for displaying the image emphatically.
[0015]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the process of emphasizing and displaying is a process of changing the color or brightness of the image of the puncture needle. It is characterized by the following.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 1 has a built-in ultrasonic vibrator in which a plurality of vibrator cells (not shown) are integrated, and transmits an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic vibrator into a living body as an ultrasonic beam. , And receives the reflected wave. The ultrasonic probe 1 is provided with a puncture adapter 5 for defining a puncture path of the puncture needle, and the puncture needle follows the puncture path defined by the puncture adapter 5 and punctures the living body. Is done. The insertion angle of the puncture needle is detected by an angle detector 6a provided on the puncture adapter 5. Specific examples of the configuration of the angle detector 6a include, for example, a combination of an insertion angle adjustment mechanism configured to be able to be set stepwise, and a switch that detects the insertion angle. Similarly, the position of the tip of the puncture needle on the insertion path is detected by a position detector 6b provided in the puncture adapter 5. As a specific configuration of the position detector 6b, for example, an optical sensor that detects the passage of the tip of the puncture needle, a rotating body that rotates with the insertion operation of the puncture needle, and an encoder that detects the rotation angle of the rotator Combinations and the like can be mentioned. The detection results from the angle detector 6a and the position detector 6b are input to the calculation / control circuit 7 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. Incidentally, the angle detector 6a corresponds to the "angle detection means" of the present invention. Further, the position detector 6b corresponds to “position detecting means” of the present invention.
[0018]
Then, the calculation / control circuit 7 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20 calculates the insertion path of the puncture needle based on the detection result from the angle detector 6a, and inputs information on the insertion path to the DSC circuit 15. I do. In response to this, the DSC circuit 15 performs a process of expressing the insertion path of the puncture needle with a broken line or an appropriate color on an ultrasonic image created as described later, and performs D / A. This is displayed on the monitor 17 via the converter 16. Incidentally, such processing may be arbitrarily performed as needed. Note that the monitor 17 corresponds to the "display means" of the present invention.
[0019]
The ultrasonic probe 1 is connected to a pulsar 2 of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20. When transmitting an ultrasonic beam, the pulsar 2 sequentially generates high-voltage pulses at predetermined delay times. Ultrasonic waves are generated in each transducer cell by being sequentially applied to each transducer cell of the ultrasonic transducer incorporated in the probe 1. On the other hand, when receiving the ultrasonic beam, the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam is received by each transducer cell of the ultrasonic transducer, and the received signal is input to the preamplifier 8.
[0020]
(When transmitting an ultrasonic beam)
A transmission delay generation circuit 3 is connected to the pulsar 2, a transmission delay control circuit 4 is connected to the transmission delay generation circuit 3, and an operation / control circuit 7 is connected to the transmission delay control circuit 4. Is connected. The transmission delay control circuit 4 controls the delay time of the high voltage pulse applied to each transducer cell of the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe 1, and the transmission delay generation circuit 3 controls the transmission delay based on the delay time. Generate a signal. This transmission delay time is determined based on the relative angle of the insertion path of the puncture needle with respect to the ultrasonic transducer, that is, the insertion angle of the puncture needle and the focal position of the ultrasonic beam generated from each transducer cell. You. The focal position of the ultrasonic beam generated from each transducer cell can be uniquely determined by the insertion angle of the puncture needle. That is, since the insertion path of the puncture needle is uniquely determined according to the insertion angle of the puncture needle defined by the puncture adapter 5, the path from each transducer cell to the insertion path of this puncture needle is determined. The distance, that is, the focal position can be uniquely calculated by calculation. In this way, the delay time of the high voltage pulse supplied to each transducer cell is determined in order to realize the focal position from each transducer cell. More specifically, the arithmetic and control circuit 7 receives the detection result regarding the insertion angle of the puncture needle from the angle detector 6a, and determines the insertion angle of the puncture needle and the relative position of the insertion path of the puncture needle with respect to each transducer cell. The transmission delay control circuit 4 obtains information on the insertion angle of the puncture needle and the relative position of the insertion path of the puncture needle with respect to each transducer cell from the computation / control circuit 7, Set the delay time for the reference timing. Then, the transmission delay generation circuit 3 generates a transmission delay signal of each transducer cell based on the delay time, and the pulsar 2 sequentially applies a high voltage pulse to each transducer cell according to the transmission delay signal. .
[0021]
The arithmetic and control circuit 7 also transmits information on the insertion angle of the puncture needle and the relative position of the puncture needle insertion path to each transducer cell to the reception delay control circuit 11. However, at the time of receiving the ultrasonic beam, it is possible to form a thin beam over the whole by performing dynamic focus processing (processing for continuously changing the focal position of the composite received beam dynamically). It is not always necessary for the control circuit 7 to transmit information on the relative position of the puncture needle with respect to each transducer cell in the insertion path.
[0022]
(When receiving an ultrasonic beam)
The reception signal of the ultrasonic beam received by each transducer cell of the ultrasonic transducer is input to the preamplifier 8 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 20. Then, the reception signal appropriately amplified by the preamplifier 8 is input to the gain correction circuit 9, subjected to diffusion attenuation correction by the gain correction circuit 9, and then input to the reception delay generation circuit 10. The reception delay generation circuit 10 combines the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, referred to as a reception beam) into a thin beam based on the information on the delay time of each transducer cell set by the reception delay control circuit 11. This received beam is received by each transducer cell of the ultrasonic probe 1, and the received signal is input to the detection circuit 12 and log-compressed by the Log compression circuit 13. Incidentally, the log compression process in the Log compression circuit 13 is performed because the dynamic range of display when displaying an ultrasonic image on the monitor 17 is limited. The output from the Log compression circuit 13 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 14 and input to the DSC circuit 15. In the DSC circuit 15, data for displaying the above-described puncture needle insertion path superimposed on the ultrasonic image from the arithmetic and control circuit 7 is also input, a process of creating an ultrasonic image, and processing of the puncture needle. Processing such as displaying the insertion path superimposed on the ultrasonic image is performed. Further, the DSC circuit 15 synthesizes an image at the time of normal scanning and an image at the time of oblique scanning to be described later on an image memory provided therein. Then, the ultrasonic image data converted into analog data by the D / A converter 16 is displayed on the monitor 17 as an ultrasonic image. At this time, the insertion path of the puncture needle is displayed on the ultrasonic image in a state where a broken line or an appropriate color is given. Note that the DSC circuit 15 corresponds to “ultrasonic image creating means” of the present invention.
[0023]
By the way, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, when performing a puncture operation, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, once every predetermined number (for example, 2 to 5 times) of transmitting an ultrasonic beam, At a rate, a process of deflecting the ultrasonic beam is performed so that the ultrasonic beam is transmitted at an angle larger than the normal time, specifically, an angle almost perpendicular to the insertion path of the puncture needle. Incidentally, FIG. 2A shows a transmission mode of an ultrasonic beam in a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIG. 2B shows a transmission mode of an ultrasonic beam in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. It has become. More specifically, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, first, the angle detector 6a provided in the puncture adapter 5 detects the insertion angle of the puncture needle specified in the puncture adapter 5, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. Based on the detection result, the arithmetic and control circuit 20 calculates an insertion angle of the puncture needle and a relative position of the puncture needle insertion path with respect to each transducer cell. Further, the transmission delay control circuit 4 receives, from the arithmetic and control circuit 7, information on the insertion angle of the puncture needle and the relative position of the insertion path of the puncture needle with respect to each transducer cell, and transmits the ultrasonic beam to the puncture needle. It is transmitted so as to be almost perpendicular to the insertion path, that is, the traveling of the composite wave (ultrasonic beam generated from the ultrasonic probe 1) of the ultrasonic pulse generated from each transducer cell The delay time with respect to the reference timing of each transducer cell is set so that the direction is substantially perpendicular to the insertion path of the puncture needle. Then, the transmission delay generating circuit 3 generates a transmission delay signal of each transducer cell based on the delay time, and the pulsar 2 sequentially applies a high voltage pulse to each transducer cell according to the transmission delay signal, As a result of the transducer cell generating an ultrasonic pulse, the ultrasonic beam generated from the ultrasonic probe 1 is transmitted so as to be almost perpendicular to the insertion path of the puncture needle. The Rukoto. Incidentally, the transmission delay generating circuit 3 corresponds to the "ultrasonic beam deflecting means" of the present invention. Further, the transmission delay control circuit 4 corresponds to “ultrasonic beam control means” of the present invention.
[0024]
That is, in each transducer cell, the above-described ordinary ultrasonic beam (corresponding to the “first ultrasonic beam” of the present invention) is transmitted and received according to the high-voltage pulse from the pulser 2, and the above-described operation is performed. The transmission and reception of the ultrasonic beam with deflection (corresponding to the “second ultrasonic beam” of the present invention) is performed once every predetermined number of times (for example, 2 to 5 times) of transmitting the ultrasonic beam. In the following, transmission and reception of an ultrasonic beam accompanied by this deflection will be referred to as “oblique scanning”.
[0025]
The ultrasonic beam at the time of the oblique scanning is transmitted at an angle nearly perpendicular to the insertion path of the puncture needle, that is, the puncture needle in the living body, and is based on the reflected wave from the puncture needle. The received signal is significantly stronger than in the case of normal scanning. Therefore, the puncture needle image at the time of oblique scanning is displayed on the monitor 17 with a higher luminance than at the time of normal scanning. For example, by adding and displaying the ultrasonic image at the time of normal scanning and the ultrasonic image at the time of oblique scanning, without deteriorating the spatial resolution of the in-vivo target other than the puncture needle, only the luminance of the puncture needle image is displayed. Can be stronger.
[0026]
Further, the reception signal based on the reflected wave from the puncture needle during oblique scanning is stronger than that during normal scanning, that is, since the amplitude is large, the ultrasonic signal of the ultrasonic beam from which the signal having large amplitude is generated. By specifying the elapsed time from the start of transmission, the distance (position of the puncture needle) from each transducer cell to the puncture needle in the living body can be roughly grasped. However, for example, when there is a body tissue such as a blood vessel in parallel with the insertion path of the puncture needle, the received signal based on the reflected wave also has a large amplitude. It cannot be determined that the received signal is a received signal based on the reflected wave from the puncture needle.
[0027]
Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3, the arithmetic / control circuit 7 has a sufficiently large amplitude of the reception signal at the time of the oblique scanning as compared with a general reception signal from a living tissue. A signal (amplitude larger than the width A in the figure) (signals in areas B and C in the figure) is specified, and furthermore, the time elapsed from the start of transmission of the ultrasonic beam in which the signal having the larger amplitude is generated The time is compared with the elapsed time (position T in the figure) from the start of transmission of the ultrasonic beam in which a reception signal is generated based on the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam from the puncture needle in the actual insertion path. Then, it is determined whether or not the signal having the large amplitude is a received signal based on the reflected wave from the puncture needle. At this time, an allowable error range (range D in the figure) of, for example, several μsec is provided. In this example, it is determined that the signal in the area B in the figure is a received signal based on a reflected wave from the puncture needle. You. In addition, such a determination is made by calculating the distance from each transducer cell to the object that generated the large-amplitude signal from the time elapsed from the start of transmission of the ultrasonic beam in which the large-amplitude signal was generated. Alternatively, the distance may be compared with the distance to the puncture needle in the insertion path.
[0028]
The DSC circuit 15 emphasizes the puncture needle image created based on the received signal based on the reflected wave from the puncture needle on the screen of the monitor 17 based on the determination by the arithmetic and control circuit 7 described above. Image processing to be displayed. More specifically, a process of displaying the other portion (living tissue) in a different color or luminance from the other portion (living tissue) is performed. Further, processing for synthesizing and displaying the image at the time of normal scanning and the image at the time of oblique scanning is performed.
[0029]
Further, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, in order to further improve the spatial resolution of the puncture needle image, the focal position of the ultrasonic beam from each transducer (hereinafter, referred to as the transmission focus position) is set according to the insertion position of the puncture needle. ) Is set to an optimal position.
[0030]
In the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, such setting is performed by the user using the operation panel to set the transmission focus position near the tip of the puncture needle. It is necessary to concentrate on the puncturing operation, and such an operation is preferably omitted. Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, this operation is automatically performed as described below.
[0031]
The arithmetic and control circuit 7 determines the tip of the puncture needle in the living body based on the information about the insertion angle from the angle detector 6a and the information about the tip position on the insertion path of the puncture needle from the position detector 6b. The position is obtained by calculation, and information on the tip position of the puncture needle is sent to the transmission delay control circuit 4. The transmission delay control circuit 4 sets a transmission delay time based on the information on the tip position of the puncture needle so as to set a transmission focus position near the tip of the puncture needle. The transmission delay control circuit 4 generates a transmission delay signal for each transducer cell based on the transmission delay time, and the pulsar 2 sequentially applies a high voltage pulse to each transducer cell in accordance with the transmission delay signal, The transmission focus position is controlled near the distal end position of the puncture needle by the child cell generating an ultrasonic pulse. Thereby, the user can obtain the optimal ultrasonic image without operating the device panel 18 during the puncture operation and setting the transmission focus position. The calculation / control circuit 7, the angle detector 6a, the position detector 6b, and the transmission delay control circuit 4 correspond to the "focus position control means" of the present invention.
[0032]
By the way, when the puncture needle is inserted into a living body, the puncture needle may come off the insertion path due to the pressing force of the living tissue. At this time, if the puncture needle deviates greatly in the depth direction of the ultrasonic image (the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam), the vicinity of the distal end position of the puncture needle is not captured on the ultrasonic image, There is a problem that the user cannot perform a puncture operation accurately. Further, even when the puncture needle is slightly deviated in the depth direction of the ultrasonic image (the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam), the tip of the puncture needle becomes difficult to see on the ultrasonic image. However, there arises a problem that a user cannot perform a puncture operation accurately. Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary to insert the puncture needle again along the puncture route.
[0033]
Therefore, in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic transducer 1a of the ultrasonic probe 1 scans the ultrasonic beam in the scanning direction [long axis (Array) direction] and the ultrasonic beam. A two-dimensional array is formed (partially or wholly) in a direction [short axis (Lens) direction] substantially orthogonal to the direction, and transmission / reception of the ultrasonic beam is also performed in the short axis (Lens) direction. Thus, the process of detecting the position of the tip of the puncture needle in the short axis (Lens) direction and setting the above-described transmission focus position to the optimum position is also performed for the short axis (Lens) direction. More specifically, while transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic beam with respect to one row of the ultrasonic transducers 1a in the short axis (Lens) direction, the position at which such ultrasonic beam is transmitted and received is determined with respect to the long axis (Array) direction. By sequentially moving, that is, scanning, position information on the depth of the puncture needle and position information on the short axis direction can be obtained for each interval of the ultrasonic transducers 1a in the long axis direction. it can. At this time, since the luminance of the puncture needle image does not matter, the intensity of the signal received from the puncture needle only needs to be strong enough to determine that it is from the puncture needle. Therefore, in this case, it is not always necessary to perform the scanning in the oblique direction. Specifically, in addition to the above-described processing, the arithmetic and control circuit 7 performs the processing described above on the basis of the reception signal of the ultrasonic beam input to the preamplifier 8 based on the short axis of the tip of the puncture needle ( The position in the direction of the puncture needle is obtained by calculation, and information on the position of the tip of the puncture needle in the direction of the short axis (Lens) is sent to the transmission delay control circuit 4, and the transmission delay control circuit 4 determines the position of the short axis of the tip of the puncture needle. This is performed by setting a transmission delay time in the short axis (Lens) direction of the ultrasonic vibrator 1a in order to set a transmission focus position near the front end according to the position in the (Lens) direction. Thereby, even when the tip position of the puncture needle inserted into the living body deviates in the short axis (Lens) direction, the transmission focus position can be appropriately set near the tip position of the puncture needle, An optimum ultrasonic image can be obtained without newly inserting the puncture needle along the puncture path.
[0034]
In addition, similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic transducer 1a of the ultrasonic probe 1 is moved in the scanning direction [long axis (Array) direction] of the ultrasonic beam and the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam. A two-dimensional array is formed (partially or wholly) in a direction (short axis (Lens) direction) that is substantially orthogonal, and transmission and reception of ultrasonic beams are performed in the short axis (Lens) direction. The position in the short axis (Lens) direction corresponding to the long axis (Array) direction of the puncture needle is detected, and on the ultrasonic image, the short axis (Lens) direction corresponding to the long axis (Array) direction of the puncture needle is detected. The position shift amount from the insertion path may be expressed in an emphasized manner on the puncture needle image. Specifically, such processing is performed by the calculation / control circuit 7 based on the information regarding the insertion angle of the puncture needle from the angle detector 6a and the three-dimensional ultrasonic image data created in the DSC circuit 15. The position shift amount from the insertion path in the short axis (Lens) direction corresponding to the long axis (Array) direction of the puncture needle is calculated by calculation, and information on the position shift amount is sent to the DSC circuit 15 again, and the DSC The circuit 15 performs the image processing such that the puncture needle image is displayed in an emphasized manner on the screen of the monitor 17 according to the positional shift amount. That is, the puncture needle image is displayed with its color and brightness partially changed in accordance with the amount of positional deviation from the insertion path. Thereby, even when the tip position of the puncture needle inserted into the living body deviates in the short axis (Lens) direction, the user can easily recognize that (and the position thereof). By re-inserting the puncture needle along the puncture path, an optimal ultrasonic image can be obtained. It should be noted that the angle detector 6a, the arithmetic / control circuit 7, and the DSC circuit 15 constitute "position shift amount calculating means" of the present invention.
[0035]
By the way, as the ratio of oblique scanning with respect to normal scanning increases, the image of an object (living tissue) other than the puncture needle tends to deteriorate and the sensitivity tends to decrease. In the diagnostic device, the user can arbitrarily adjust the ratio of performing the oblique scanning while checking the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 17.
[0036]
Specifically, the user uses the operation panel 18 to set the ratio of oblique scanning to an optimal value on a setting screen (not shown) while checking the image quality of the ultrasonic image displayed on the monitor 17. . The setting content is transmitted to the arithmetic and control circuit 7, and the arithmetic and control circuit 7 controls the transmission delay control circuit 4 to perform oblique scanning according to the ratio. Incidentally, the specific processing for performing the oblique scanning is as described above. The operation panel 18, the arithmetic / control circuit 7, and the transmission delay control circuit 4 constitute the "deflection frequency adjusting means" of the present invention.
[0037]
Hereinafter, a flow of a process related to oblique scanning of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG.
[0038]
When entering the image processing operation, the arithmetic / control circuit 7 determines whether the mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is in the puncture mode or the normal mode (S01). The normal mode referred to here is a mode in which image processing for displaying an image of a living body on the monitor 17 is performed by simply using an ultrasonic transducer without performing a puncture operation. Incidentally, when the mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is in the normal mode (S01, No), the arithmetic and control circuit 7 sets the deflection angle (= angle) of the ultrasonic beam to 0 degree (S08). . Thus, the ultrasound beam is transmitted vertically down each transducer cell. Subsequently, in the transmission delay control circuit 4, a transmission delay time corresponding to the transmission focus position set using the operation panel 18 is set in advance (S09), and based on the transmission delay time, the transmission delay generation circuit 3 is set. Generates a transmission delay signal, and based on the transmission delay signal, the pulser 2 applies a high voltage pulse to each transducer cell, and each transducer cell generates an ultrasonic wave. Then, the ultrasonic beam is transmitted at the angle of 0 degree (S10). On the other hand, the reception delay control circuit 11 sets a reception delay time for dynamic focus so as to receive the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam, and sends information on the reception delay time to the reception delay generation circuit 10. The reception delay generation circuit 10 combines the reception beam into a narrow beam based on the information on the delay time of each transducer cell set by the reception delay control circuit 11. The reception delay control circuit 11 processes the signal received by each transducer cell (S11) and displays the signal on the monitor as a received image.
[0039]
On the other hand, in S01, when the mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is in the puncture mode (S01, Yes), the arithmetic / control circuit 7 sends the puncture needle insertion angle and angle from the angle detector 6a and the position detector 6b. A detection result regarding the tip position of the puncture needle on the insertion path is received (S02), and based on the detection result, the tip position of the puncture needle in the living body is set to set a transmission focus position near the tip of the puncture needle. Information about the tip position of the puncture needle obtained by the calculation is sent to the transmission delay control circuit 4. The transmission delay control circuit 4 sets a transmission delay time in accordance with the tip position of the puncture needle so as to set a transmission focus position near the tip. The transmission delay control circuit 4 generates a transmission delay signal for each transducer cell based on the transmission delay time, and the pulsar 2 sequentially applies a high voltage pulse to each transducer cell in accordance with the transmission delay signal, The transmission focus position is controlled near the distal end position of the puncture needle by generating an ultrasonic pulse by the child cell (S03). At this time, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs oblique scanning in which the ultrasonic beam is transmitted at a rate of once every several rates in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion path of the puncture needle. Specifically, the angle detector 6a provided in the puncture adapter 5 detects the insertion angle of the puncture needle specified in the puncture adapter 5, and the arithmetic and control circuit 7 performs the puncture based on the detection result. The relative position of the needle insertion angle and the insertion path of the puncture needle with respect to each transducer cell is calculated. Further, the transmission delay control circuit 4 receives, from the arithmetic and control circuit 7, information regarding the insertion angle of the puncture needle and the relative position of the puncture needle with respect to each transducer cell, and transmits the ultrasonic beam to the puncture needle. A delay time with respect to the reference timing of each transducer cell is set so that the transducer cell is transmitted at an angle nearly perpendicular to the insertion path. Then, the transmission delay generation circuit 3 generates a transmission delay signal of each transducer cell based on the delay time, and the pulsar 2 sequentially applies a high voltage pulse to each transducer cell according to the transmission delay signal. The transducer cell generates an ultrasonic pulse (S04). On the other hand, the reception delay control circuit 11 sets a reception delay time for dynamic focus so as to receive the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam, and sends information on the reception delay time to the reception delay generation circuit 10. At this time, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus performs a process of receiving an ultrasonic beam in oblique scanning once every several rates. Specifically, the angle detector 6a provided in the puncture adapter 5 detects the insertion angle of the puncture needle specified in the puncture adapter 5, and the arithmetic and control circuit 7 sends the detection result to the reception delay control circuit. Send to 11 The reception delay control circuit 11 deflects each of the transducers based on the detection result of the angle of the puncture needle by the angle detector 6a so as to deflect the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam so as to be substantially perpendicular to the insertion path of the puncture needle. The delay time of the cell is set, and information about the reception delay time is sent to the reception delay generation circuit 10. The reception delay generation circuit 10 combines a reflected wave of an ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, referred to as a reception beam) into a thin beam based on the information on the delay time of each transducer cell set by the reception delay control circuit 11. Then, a process of deflecting this so as to be substantially perpendicular to the insertion path of the puncture needle is performed. Each transducer cell receives an ultrasonic beam in oblique scanning while receiving an ultrasonic beam in normal scanning (S05). The reception delay control circuit 11 processes a signal received by each transducer cell to generate an image (corresponding to the “first ultrasonic tomographic image” of the present invention) based on the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam in normal scanning. , An image based on the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam in the oblique scanning (corresponding to the “second ultrasonic tomographic image” of the present invention), and a received image (“the third ultrasonic wave of the present invention”) is displayed on the monitor. (Corresponding to the "tomographic image") (S06). Further, the DSC 15 performs a process of emphasizing and displaying the puncture needle signal included in the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam in the oblique scanning (color / brightness change), and displays the processing result on the monitor. (S07). At this time, the puncture needle image is highlighted and displayed by changing the color or the brightness.
[0040]
As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, the position of the puncture needle in the living body can be reliably determined from the information on the position and angle of the puncture needle and the luminance signal based on the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam. Since only the portion representing the puncture needle is highlighted and displayed without significantly deteriorating the image quality of the portion representing the body tissue of the ultrasonic image, the user can be visualized. The in-vivo tissue and the puncture needle image can be easily distinguished.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the position of the puncture needle in the living body can be reliably determined from the information on the position and angle of the puncture needle and the luminance signal based on the reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam. Since only the portion representing the puncture needle can be emphasized and displayed without significantly deteriorating the image quality of the portion representing the in-vivo tissue of the ultrasound image, The body tissue and the puncture needle image can be easily distinguished.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of performing a process of deflecting an ultrasonic beam at a rate of once every several rates when performing a puncture operation in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of performing a process of extracting a signal based on a reflected wave from a puncture needle from a reception signal at the time of oblique scanning in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1; .
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an image processing operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
5 is a diagram illustrating a case where the ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a vibrator arranged in a 2D array, according to an amount of displacement of the puncture needle from the insertion path. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process in which a process of displaying in a highlighted manner is performed.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Ultrasonic probe
2 pulsar
3 Transmission delay generation circuit
4 Transmission delay control circuit
5 Puncture adapter
6a Angle detector
6b Position detector
7 Operation and control circuit
8 Preamplifier
9 Gain correction circuit
10. Reception delay generation circuit
11 Reception delay control circuit
12 Detection circuit
13 Log compression circuit
14 A / D converter
15 DSC circuit
16 D / A converter
17 Monitor
18 Operation panel

Claims (9)

A puncture needle is defined on the scanning line of the ultrasonic beam, and a puncture adapter having angle detecting means for detecting an puncture angle of the puncture needle with respect to a living body is provided.A plurality of transducers for generating ultrasonic waves are provided. An ultrasound probe that scans an ultrasonic wave generated from the vibrator in a living body as the ultrasonic beam, and receives a reflected wave thereof,
Based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image creating means for creating an ultrasonic image of the living body,
Display means for displaying the ultrasound image created by the ultrasound image creation means,
Ultrasonic beam deflecting means for deflecting the ultrasonic beam in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion path of the puncture needle, based on an insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to the living body detected by the angle detection means. ,
Ultrasonic beam control means for performing control to deflect the ultrasonic beam in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion path of the puncture needle by the ultrasonic beam deflecting means each time the ultrasonic beam is scanned a predetermined number of times. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: The ultrasound image creating means creates a first ultrasound tomographic image based on a reflected wave of the first ultrasound beam without deflection of the ultrasound beam by the ultrasound beam control means, After the second ultrasonic tomographic image is created based on the reflected wave of the second ultrasonic beam accompanied by the deflection of the ultrasonic beam by the beam control means, the first ultrasonic tomographic image and the second ultrasonic tomographic image are further added. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third ultrasonic tomographic image is created by adding ultrasonic tomographic images. The ultrasonic image creating means, based on luminance information based on the reflected wave of the second ultrasonic beam, and information on the insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to the living body detected by the angle detection means, A process for identifying a reflected signal from the puncture needle included in a reflected wave of the second ultrasonic beam and performing processing for emphasizing and displaying an image portion created based on the reflected signal. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the process of displaying the highlighted image is a process of changing a color or brightness of an image portion created based on a reflection signal from the puncture needle. . A deflection frequency adjusting means for adjusting a frequency of deflecting the ultrasonic beam in a direction substantially orthogonal to an insertion path of the puncture needle by the ultrasonic beam deflecting means is provided. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The puncture adapter includes a position detection unit that detects a tip position of the puncture needle on the insertion path,
Based on the tip position of the puncture needle on the insertion path detected by the position detection means and information on the insertion angle of the puncture needle with respect to the living body detected by the angle detection means, The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focus position control unit that changes a focus position of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from the transducer. A puncture adapter is provided for defining the insertion path of the puncture needle on the scanning line of the ultrasonic beam, and a plurality of transducers for generating ultrasonic waves are provided, and ultrasonic waves generated from the transducers are generated as the ultrasonic beam. An ultrasonic probe that scans inside the body and receives the reflected wave,
Based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image creating means for creating an ultrasonic image of the living body,
Display means for displaying an ultrasonic image created by the ultrasonic image creating means, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus,
A position shift amount for calculating a position shift amount from the insertion path in a direction substantially orthogonal to a scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam of the puncture needle based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe. A calculating means,
The ultrasonic image creating means enhances an image of the puncture needle displayed as the ultrasonic image according to a positional shift amount of the puncture needle from the insertion path calculated by the positional shift amount calculating means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by performing a process of displaying by displaying. The plurality of transducers have a two-dimensional array structure that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the ultrasonic beam and the scanning direction,
The position shift amount calculating unit is configured to determine, based on a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam received by the ultrasonic probe in the scanning direction and the direction substantially orthogonal to the ultrasonic beam, the substantially orthogonal direction corresponding to the scanning direction of the puncture needle. Specify the position in the direction to perform, to calculate the amount of positional deviation from the insertion path in the direction substantially orthogonal to the scanning direction of the puncture needle,
The ultrasonic image creating means, according to the amount of positional deviation from the insertion path in the direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction of the puncture needle, of the puncture needle displayed on the ultrasonic image 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a process of displaying an image with emphasis is performed. 9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the process of displaying the highlighted image is a process of changing the color or brightness of the image of the puncture needle.

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